Subscribe to our free social sector news and jobs services!

Stay informed with Australia's number 1 resource for the social sector.

Breaking national NFP news

Jobs and career opportunities

Conferences and events from across Australia

Plus: Sign up today and receive a FREE copy of our Executive Webinar: Government Relations for Not for Profits - A Tactical Approach.

First Name

Last Name

Email Address*

Post Code*

Subscribe to our email bulletins:Pro Bono News | Social sector news bulletin. Sent every Tuesday and Thursday morning.Pro Bono News | Good Business edition. Sent on the first Wednesday of every month.Pro Bono Careers | Purpose-driven job alerts & career news. Sent every Monday morning.Pro Bono Resources | Sector specific professional tools & webinar updates. Sent once a week.Subscriber Offers | Exclusive sector content from our supporting partners. Sent once a month.

Victorian charity, Try Youth and Community Services (TRY) has defended the Federal Government’s Home Insulation Program saying it has brought great rewards to the Not for Profit organisation as a social enterprise.

The praise comes despite the program being dogged by claims of malpractice and being blamed for the death of four installers in Queensland. As well there have been calls for the Federal Environment Minister overseeing the program, Peter Garret, to resign.

The Home Insulation Program is part of the Federal Government’s Economic Stimulus Program.

Since the program began, TRY says it has ventured into a Home Sustainability social enterprise, giving training, education and experience to disadvantaged unemployed people. So far the organisation says it has completed more than 400 installations in the Melbourne and Gippsland regions without any complaints.

Damien Mowlam, the CEO of TRY says the Home Insulation Program has allowed the organisation to provide young people with work and training while also providing a great outcome for the community.

He says all of their home insulation employees are fully qualified and are given comprehensive training before they start on-site and in Victoria they have never laid foil insulation.

The Government has now banned the use of foil insulation which were linked to safety concerns in other states.

TRY says it has employed over 50 people as part of the Home Insulation Program, and continues to employ more people as they expand the social enterprise.

Despite the current issues faced in other states, Mowlam says the program has been great for TRY.

He says because TRY is a Not for Profit organisation, all the money it receives goes back to creating more jobs or providing services to the local community.

He says TRY is competing in a very competitive environment in regards to getting jobs for home insulation – competing with private companies and new start up companies taking advantage of the government rebate.

Got a story to share?

Got a news tip or article idea for Pro Bono News? Or perhaps you would like to write an article and join a growing community of sector leaders sharing their thoughts and analysis with Pro Bono News readers?